The price or getting a tuba rebuilt (more or less)

[EMC]

I would be also getting the bell replaced

This is one of those lines you just read (or I do) and take for granted, then a few minutes later:

Bloke talked about doing this on a lesser tuba recently. On an Alex, this seems like a big step. I'm not second guessing you at all, but it does seem like something that would be an interesting story.

The reason I'm getting the bell replaced is because it's starting to crack and I've already been in contact with Alexander about getting a new one,

[EMC]

looking at my horn again, I think rather than a total rebuild, I think it really just needs to have the MANY dents removed and then new bell installed, the rotor springs do need redone or tightened or "something". But other than that it has several red rot spots that I'd like to have looked at just to make sure they aren't in need of patching.

[bort]

Why not?

[eupher61]

Yeah, you might consider an "econo-overhaul", which would be a complete cleaning, valves aligned/checked, dents taken out without de-soldering your horn (dent eraser), any other "major" issue that needs taken care of, buffing, and finally re-lacquering or spot lacquering on your horn.

I would probably look into Borodi Music in Ohio for that. They seem to do a really nice job on overhauls; the lacquer job in particular looks beautiful and the pricing is reasonable.

ummmm.......Yes, they do lots of "overhauls" and the finished product does look good.

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

When rebuilding or performing extensive repairs on an Alex or any of the old-school hand made tubas, french horns, euphoniums, etc., a more careful and detailed approach is a must if the job is to turn out right and proper. These are sensitive instruments and can not be addressed like any old middle school sousaphone, doing so can yield very bad and sometimes tragic results. If the shop has an issue with taking it apart, find another shop. Magnetic dent tools are an absolute no-no. The instrument was constructed in a traditional manor and because so, any and all metal work where it involves dent repair, soldering and polishing on such instruments should be done in an equally traditional manor. You should be very selective about the shop that you chose to perform the desired work you seek and communicate your desires and consers thoroughly to get a detailed understanding of what is to be done and the expected cost before committing yourself to the project. Understand also that older horns have a way of presenting the shop with surprises that can add additional cost and time to the completed work. See the link as an example http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/alxcctuba.htm

Good luck.

D.C. Oberloh

[bort]

The pricing isn't out of sight, and Alexander has obviously gone back and designed separate CC bugles, as the newer ones play QUITE well in tune...and still offer the unmistakeable-to-tuba-players Alexander sonic characteristics.

A new Alex 163 costs about the same as a new PT-6. Why so many PT-6's and so few Alex 163's?

[EMC]

When rebuilding or performing extensive repairs on an Alex or any of the old-school hand made tubas, french horns, euphoniums, etc., a more careful and detailed approach is a must if the job is to turn out right and proper. These are sensitive instruments and can not be addressed like any old middle school sousaphone, doing so can yield very bad and sometimes tragic results. If the shop has an issue with taking it apart, find another shop. Magnetic dent tools are an absolute no-no. The instrument was constructed in a traditional manor and because so, any and all metal work where it involves dent repair, soldering and polishing on such instruments should be done in an equally traditional manor. You should be very selective about the shop that you chose to perform the desired work you seek and communicate your desires and consers thoroughly to get a detailed understanding of what is to be done and the expected cost before committing yourself to the project. Understand also that older horns have a way of presenting the shop with surprises that can add additional cost and time to the completed work. See the link as an example http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/alxcctuba.htm

Good luck.

D.C. Oberloh

The delicacy and skill required to work on Alexanders is something I have taken into deep consideration, and I have been browsing around and gathering opinions, also if anyone can recommend a shop that would be well equipped for this I would appreciate the advice, I know Oberloh is an obvious choice but I've been told that you guys are "backed up for years" and I'm not sure if that means I won't get my horn back for "years". I'm not one to rush anyone especially for an instrument I paid a lot of money for but that seems an awful long time for me to not have my horn. I've heard of mile high brass, of course Dan Shultz, and I've considered sending it back to Wichita where I purchased it as well.

[EMC]

Hand-made (hammered) tubas tend to "print through" (hammer marks) when dents are pushed out from the inside (whether stick-and-ball technique or magnet technique).

A Ferree's dent machine straightens out metal from the inside and outside simultaneously, and hammer marks (which remain in the insides of hand-made tubas, but were sanded and buffed off the outsides during manufacturing) tend to not transfer from the inside to the outside as severely when this device is used by someone well-versed at using it.

Old hand-made tubas are often thin-walled and sometimes brittle, which requires extra care and examination.

Old Alexander CC tubas were basically factory cut-down BBb tubas (BBb horizontal main slide assembly replaced with a [CC] dogleg and a vertical tuning slide, and with all four rotors featuring 90% knuckles). We've all seen videos of artist-level players using 6th partial fingerings on those old Alexander CC tubas for 5th partial pitches, as well as 4th partial fingerings for 3rd partial pitches...etc. As so many of them are really worn, have suffered from repeated "back-of-music-store" and "irresponsible ownership" abuse, and the scale is particularly awkward, if looking for the Alexander sound and a CC tuba, probably the best place to look is a new Alexander CC tuba. The pricing isn't out of sight, and Alexander has obviously gone back and designed separate CC bugles, as the newer ones play QUITE well in tune...and still offer the unmistakeable-to-tuba-players Alexander sonic characteristics.

Well, I'm not really interested in buying a brand new one to be honest, if I was I'd probably sell the one I have, and as far as tuning goes this one seems to be one of the gems that hardly have any tuning issues at least the way I play, really I just need to use 1-3 for D in the staff and that's about it, now I'm not saying that tuning is perfect but it's certainly not bad